Spring-wheel.



C. N.. SOWDEN.

vSPRING WHEEL. APPLICATION I'ILVBD PEB.26, 1913.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

` WlT/VESSES ATTORNEYS G. 1\.rsoWDEN.f` SPRING WHEBL. APPLICATION FILED FEB.2'6, v1913'.

Patented Dec. 30, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEYS CHARLES N. SOWDEN, F GUANTANAMO, CUBA.

SPRING-WHEEL.

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES N. SowDEN, a British subject, at present residing at Soledad, Guantanamo, in the Province of Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, have invented a new and Improved Spring- Wheel, of which the following is a full,

clear, and enact description.

My invention relates to spring wheels more particularly designed for use on automobiles, and more especially to that class of spring' wheels in which there is an inner hub and spoke section having a rim, and an outer tire rim.

It is an object of myinvention to provide,

a novel spring means affording a cushioned connection between the inner rim and the tire rim.

It is alsor a design of my invention to improve in various particulars,` devices of the general character indicated, to theend that efficiency in operation may be promoted, as well as durability, economy of manufacture, and simplicity of adjustment and repair.

VThe invention will be more particularly explained in the specific description hereinafter to be given.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the a views.

Figure 1 represents in side elevation, with parts broken away, a spring wheel embodying my invention; Fig. 2 shows a detail of the tire rim; Fig. 3 is a, detail cross section approximately on a plane corresponding with the line` 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a detail cross section on a plane corresponding with the line 1 -4: of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a cross section similar to Fig. 4, but showing a slight modification in the character of the spring.

In constructing a wheel embodying my invention in accordance with the particular example illustrated, a hub and spoke section is formed, having the hub 10, spokes 11 and rim 12, said elements being of any approved construction in detail. A continuous ytire rim 14 is suitably formed to receive any approved tire 13. In the Aform shown, the tire rim is made up of twoannular mating sections 15, of corresponding shape, which when brought together constitute a peripheral seat portion 16, having specification of Letters Patent. Application filed February 2G, 1913. Serial No. 750,795.

Patented Dee; 3o, 1 91a.

any practical form of side flanges 17 to engage the tire 13.

From the inner sides or inner periphery of the tire rim 14, project rigid radial arms 18, formed with registering transverse openings 19 for receiving the shackle bolts 20 of clips, each clip comprising, in addition to the U-shaped shackle bolt 20, a shackle plate I or strap 21 secured by nuts 22 on the threaded ends of the bolt. The holes 19 lare produced by upsettingfrom the radial arms 18, tongues or lugs 23, said lugs being bent outwardly and curved in a downward direction to give each lug a sector shape, so

that when the rim sections 15 .are brought together the-respective lugs 23 thereof willr constitute a semicirc'ular seat fittingthe concave surface of the shackle bolt 20. Similarly the inner surfaces of the pair of lugs 23 present a concave recess vin which is clamped a rope or equivalent flexible element 24, which preferably is a wire cable, the ends of which are spliced or otherwise properly united so that the cablel extends in unbroken continuity around the wheel within the tire rim 14. The arrangement is such that the cable 24 is tightly clamped to each radial arm of the tire rim by the clips, while the stretches of the cable between each peripherally spacd clip will provide av HeXible element.

Bearing against each flexible cable section, and engaging the same, is a head 25 formed on or secured to radially disposed spindles or stems 26, which are fitted in the inner rim 12 of the wheel, for radial movement. The stems 26 are under the linfluence of suitable springs to give the stems a yielding support and thus afford a spring support for the tire rim 14. The-springs in the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4 are helical springs, 27, while i'n the form-shown in Fig. 5, rubber springs or buffers 27El are employed. Preferably, each stem 26.passes through a radial bushing 28, which has a fiange 29 at the inner periphery of the inner rim 12, and receives a nut 30 on the outer threaded end of the bushing, whereby said bushing is firmly secured to the rim 12. The bushings extend. inwardly radially vbeyond the shoulder 29, as at 30, to give a. longer bearing for the stem 26. The outer ends of the springs 27 abut against the flange 29, while the inner end abuts against a cupped washer 31 on the inner end of the stem 26,

said inner end being threaded and receiving a nut- 32 and preferably, also, a lock nut 83.

In the form shown in Fig. 5, the bushing 2Sa terminates at its inner end in a lateral head 28h, which is returned at the'sides to provide edge iianges 28C. The buffer spring 27a is seated at its outer end against the head 28h and at its inner end against the cupped washer 31, as in the formvshown. in Fig. 4. A nut 30a takes ontothe outer threaded end of the bushing 28a.

It is to be understood that the intermediate cable sections between the shackles constitute flexible seats enga-ged by the heads' 25 of the radial. spring-acted stems 26, and that the said cable sections are taut. Preferably, the heads 25 are provided with peripherally grooved rollers 34, mounted to revolve on pins 35 extending between forks 25a on the heads 25, so that the cable 24 either of the radially opposed springs froml becoming entirely slack even with an eX- treme movement of the hub and spoke section relatively to the tire rim.

It is to be understood that in practice the inner tire rim 12 is provided with an eX- terior metallic tire or band 86 which is shrunk onto the rini 12, which latter constitutes the ielly, the said band 3G serving to resist the of the springs and the shock of action when in use. The torsion due to the hub and spoke section being driven or braked, is taken up by the rollers 34 running up the angles 24a (Fig. 1) which are presented by` the cable sections when the springs are under tension, and by the hub and spoke section turning within the tire rim the angles 24a are increased, due to the increased bend 1n the cable caused by a change in position of the roller. The side swaying of the car having my improved wheel is taken care of by the tautness of the cable. Q

Having thus described my invention, I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters stems carried by the inner wheel section alternating with the arms on the rim sections, the outer ends of the stems having forks through which the cable sections extend; and-rollers l'carried by the forks and riding on the cable sections. s

2. A spring Wheel, comprising an inner wheel section, an outer tire section, a cable running around the inner periphery of the tire section, radially movable, springrpressed stems on the inner section having members for embracing the cable, and means for fastening the cable at points alternating with the stems, said means consisting of elements on the tire section` .having transverse holes, concave lugs on the tire'section at the inner sides of the holes, presenting concave-convex surfaces, shackle-boltsppassing through said holes and bearing onpthe convex siirfaces of the lugs, strap plates on the shackle bolt, between which plates and the lugs the cable is received, and nuts forfbindin'g the strap plates against the cable to clamp the same tightly against the concave'surfaces of the lugs.

In testimony whereof I have"V signed myV name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. C. MORGAN, C. F. FERRER.

CHARLES N. sownEN.v 

